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Kenya: 815 households displaced and 14 people killed by floods (as at 10 January 2013)

Countries
Kenya
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

At least 14 people died in landslides caused by heavy rains. Above normal rain fall in December caused floods and landslides in Keiyo South district, Pokot South district and low-lying districts around Lake Victoria causing displacement to 815 households and destruction to houses and crops.

In Keiyo District, 14 people died (including 8 children) and 3 were reported missing in a landslide that took place on 28 December. Displaced persons from approximately 203 households (including 113 children under 5) were camping in informal centers such as schools and churches. Since the schools were due to open on 7 January, displaced persons needed to be relocated urgently. The affected households lacked basic facilities since most of their households goods and other personal effects were left behind in the destroyed houses.

In Pokot South, 273 families were displaced due to landslides out of which 103 were children under 5 and were still waiting to receive assistance as this bulletin was finalized.

After heavy rains, rivers Nyando, Awach and Sondu flooded several villages in Nyanza province including Nyando, Nyakach, Muhoroni, Rachuonyo and Kisumu East districts displacing 339 households. Although, NFIs and Aqua tabs were distributed to 115 households, 224 households were still awaiting to receive assistance. In Nyando district, flooding affected 24 primary schools and 6 secondary schools and damaged school infrastructure. The flooding risk remained at alert level and the Government and partners were continuing to monitor the situation.

The food security situation for IDPs deteriorated due to massive destruction of crops and granaries in the flooded areas. Food was identified as a key priority because the displaced populations had no food stocks. The KRCS was distributing food and non-food items to the affected families.

In addition to food, assistance was needed in education and WASH sectors in all flooded areas. Most of informal displaced centers lacked adequate basic sanitation facilities. The landslides caused contamination of water sources following the collapsing and overflowing of latrines. Increase in transmission of diseases, especially of cholera and diarrhea was expected among the communities displaced by landslides. The Kenyan Red Cross was working with the District Public Health Officers on disease surveillance in the affected areas.

Humanitarian support for the affected population was made difficult because many areas were inaccessible due to landslides and poor infrastructure. The local community together with the KRCS volunteers has been evacuating households that were at risk of being affected by landslides.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.